Expressing surprise
Sometimes you see or hear something that you were not expecting.
Maybe it's an unexpected event or a piece of information. Here are ten expressions that show how surprised you are.
Ten ways to show surprise
casual · neutral · formal
- Really?neutral"I got a scholarship to Japan!" "Really?"
- What?casual"The office is closed tomorrow." "What? Why?"
- What a surprise!neutralYou came all the way from Jaffna? What a surprise!
- Well I never!/Blimey!casualNimal got married? Well I never!
- That's the last thing I expectedneutralHe passed maths? That's the last thing I expected.
- You're kidding!casual"I'm moving to Canada." "You're kidding!"
- I don't believe it!/Are you serious?casualstrongOur team won? I don't believe it!
- I'm speechless!neutralstrongA party for me? I'm speechless!
- I'd never have guessed.neutralYou two are sisters? I'd never have guessed.
- You don't say!casual"I met the President today." "You don't say!"
How to use them
- We say with rising intonation. It's important to make your voice go up at the end. You are inviting the other speaker to give you more information.
- is a general expression of surprise
- are strong exclamations. "Blimey!" is a little rude as it literally means "God blind me!"
- We say when something is completely different to what you expected - after a surprising event.
- are saying that we really don't believe the information.
- is saying that you are so surprised that you can't speak.
- is a little old fashioned. If people say this nowadays, they are probably being sarcastic and they really mean that it isn't surprising at all.
Quick check
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"You don't say!" usually means:
Which phrase means you are so surprised you can't talk?
"You're kidding!" means:
See also: "I don't believe it" · Expressing disappointment
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